Locking gun holder



Feb. 9, 1954 p, PEAsE 2,668,645

LOCKING GUN HOLDER Filed June 19, 1950 41 u a8 42 f 57 a6 a5 a; as

46 5 u 47 INVENTOR. 37 p401. M1 545:

36 a 65 BY fl Jzzornqy Patented Feb. 9, 1954 UNITED STATE PATENTVOF 2,668,645 FICE LOCKING GUN HOLDER Application June 19, 1950, Serial No. 168,991

Claims.

The present invention relates generally to holders and racks for firearms, such as rifles, shotguns, and the like, and more particularly, to a holder of this type which is adapted for use by police officers in police cars or other places where it is desired to lock the gun into its rack or holder to prevent removal by un authorized persons.

It is desirable that a gun holder or rack of the type just described be adapted for quick removal of the firearm in case of need, and that such removal be relatively simple in operation, requiring one hand only. It is also desirable that the rack or holder be adjustable to receive various types of firearms, such for example, as a rifle, a submachine gun, a so-called riot gun or sawedoff shotgun, or other similar weapon.

Still further, the adjustable feature should be such that when a weapon is locked in place in the holder, it is impossible, or at least extremely difiicult to remove the same either by changing the aforesaid adjustment or by forcing the lock.

Bearing in mind the foregoing desiderata, it is a major object of the present invention to provide a locking gun holder adapted for quick operation to remove the gun held thereby.

It is another object of the invention to provide a holder of the class described which may be adjusted to receive various types of guns.

A further object of the invention is to provide a holder of the class described in which the weapon may not be removed by changing the adjustment while a gun is locked in place.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a locking gun holder in which the lock includes a frangible member such that an attempted forcing of the lock will destroy such member, but will not disengage the look so as to permit removal of the weapon.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a holder of the class described adapted for use in motor vehicles and the like, and which prevents the weapon from rattling therein so as to mar the finish or disturb the occupants of the vehicle.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide means in an article of the class described for preventing damage to the gun during placement in or removal from the holder.

The foregoing and additional objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description of a presently preferred embodiment thereof, such consideration being given likewise to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a gun holder embodying the present invention mounted in the operator's compartment of a motor vehicle, and showing a gun held therein;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1 as seen from the left;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device of Figure 2, an alternate or open position being indicated in phantom line;

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational section taken on the line 5-5 in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an elevational section taken on the line 6-45 in Figure 3;

Figure 7 is an elevational view taken on the line 1-4 in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 88 in Figure 1;

Figure 9 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 99 in Figure 2; and

Figure 10 is a perspective exploded view of the plunger lock employed in the device of Figure 1.

In Figure 1, a gun I4 is shown supported in the operators compartment of a police car, being held in a locking gun rack I6 embodying the present invention, the latter being secured to the dashboard ill of the vehicle. The stock of the gun I4 is received in a butt socket ll, secured to the floor of the vehicle. The holder l6 closely embraces the gun l4 immediately above the trigger guard i5 thereof, wherefore the gun may not be removed from its position without unlocking the holder I6, as will hereinafter be described. Any attempt to remove the gun by raising the same so as to release the stock from the butt socket I! is prevented by the engagement of the trigger guard I5 with the underside of the holding device 16.

Turning now to a discussion of the holder member [6, reference should be had to Figure 2. Here it will be seen that the holder [6 is adapted to grip the gun I4 between a rear clamp member 2i! and a forward clamp or jaw member 2|, the latter being pivotally supported, as will hereinafter be described. The rear clamp member 20 is, in turn, adjustably supported in a horizontal U-shaped bracket H), such support being given by a pair of clamp screws 28 received in internally threaded bushing members. 25, the latter being held in longitudinal slots 26 in the bracket I9. The bracket is comprises the downwardly extending arms in which the slots 28 are formed and an interconnecting cross member lSa at the rearward ends of the arms.

The clamping screws 28 are of the internal hexhead or other similar socket headed variety, and as shown in Figure 4, the heads thereof are disposed at the inner side of the bracket i9 so that when a gun I4 is held in the holding fixture it, it is impossible to operate the screws 28. The bushing members 25 are round, beveled, and formed with a shoulder 25a having slot-engaging flats thereon, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, so that they may not be rotated from outside of the clamp is by the application of a wrench or other means.

When it is desired to readjust the'device to out of the device IS, the screws 23 are accessible I whereby they may be loosened and the entire clamp member moved rearwardly along the;

slot 26.

Before tightening the screws 28 to position the rear clamp member 20, the latter. maybe tilted to an appropriate slope to match the slope of the stock or barrel of the gun M at the pointy where it engages the clamp member 23; For example, in Figure 2, the clamp member is shown. tilted forwardly slightly.

In order to provide a flat bearing surface on the clamp member 20 to bear against the inner surface of the bracket l9, the'clamp member 20 is made in three sections, an upper and lower section 30, each of which is rounded as best seen in Figure 3 to fit around'the barrel or stock of the gun It, and a central section 29. which is rectangular in cross-section. so as. to fit fiat against the interior surfaces of the bracket IS. The three sections 293030 are welded, brazed, or otherwise secured together to. form a continuous channel-like member forming the rearclamp member 20.

The rectangular section 29 also provides a recess to receive a block of sponge rubber 3|, or similar resilient material, which must be deformed as the gun is placed in the clamp, thus to prevent rattling thereof due to motion of the vehicle. The interior surfaces of the sections and the forward clamp member 2| are lined with felt 32, or other cushioning material to prevent scratching or otherwise marring the surface of the stock or barrel of the gun M.

The forward clamping jaw 2| is comprised of three sections, a central body substantially equal in its vertical dimension to the vertical width of the bracket l9, and a, pair of upper and lower plates 36 fixed to the body 35 and projecting therebeyond at one end (the left in Figure 7) whereby to form pivot. lugs projecting above and below one end of the bracket l9 (the upper in Figure 3). As shown in Figure 5, a vertical pivot pin 33 is carried in a vertical bore in an end of the bracket I9, and projects upwardly and downwardly (lower end not shown) into blind sockets 37in the plates 38. Thus, the pivot pin 33 is inaccessible for removal to open the holder I6.

For similar reasons, the plates 35 are secured to the upper and lower surfaces of the body 35 by means of slotless drive screws 34 of conventional design, and of the type which may not be removed once they are driven home.

As thus far described, it will be seen that the jaw member 2| may swing about the pivot 33 from closed position across the ends of the bracket Hi to an open position such as that shown in phantom line in Figure 3. For a description of the catch and locking means, for holding the jaw member 2| in the closed position shown. in full line in Figure 3, reference should now be had to Figures 6 through 10. Referring particularly to Figure 9, it will be seen that the. jaw 2 carries a movable latch member 38 and that the free end of the bracket I9 is formed with a notch 4i and a beveled striking edge 42 whereby the latch member 38 is moved back when the jaw 2| is closed and may thereafter engage the notch 4| to hold the jaw member 2| in closed position. An S-shaped compression spring 39' is connected between the latch member 38 and a suitable anchorage in the body 35', and adapted. to urge the latch member outwardly (to the right in Figure 7) so as to force the same into the notch 4| when the jaw 2| reaches the closed position shown in Figure 3. The free end of the bracket I9 is centrally notched, as at I9b, whereby to clear the button 39 and the rod 4|! when the jaw 2| is in closed position.

The latch. member 38 may be released from the notch M by pressing inwardly on an operating button 39 secured to the outer end of the latch member 38 and projectingthrough a suitable aperture inthe body 35, as shown in Figures '7, 8, and 9. The button member 39 is constructed of plastic tube or similarly frangible material and is mounted on a short section of rod lflrwhich is brazed, welded, or otherwise secured to. the. latch member 38. The rod section 3% also serves, to guide the latch member 38 ina sliding movement in the jaw member 2|.

Due to the frangible nature of. the button. 3.9. if it were attempted to release the look by hammering or otherwise forcing the buttonv 39 in,- wardly, such operations would result only in destroying the button 39 without moving the. latch member 38, which is otherwise held as will. be hereinafter described.

Means for locking the latch member. 3.8. so.- curely in its outward limit of movement wherein the end thereof is engaged in thenotchll. com.- prises a lock 22 having a plunger 41 with a forwardly projecting bolt 55' thereon. which. is adapted upon forward movement of the lock plunger 4? to enter a centra1 aperture 43' in the latch member 38 to hold the latter againstlateral movement. 7

The movable plunger 41 is slidably carried in a tubular fixed support as, and is urged outwardly of said tubular support. by a pair ofcompression springs 52 carried by the plunger 47 and projecting forwardly therefrom. A mounting flange. is provided at the forward end of the tubular member 45 and notched at one side, as shown at 53, to provide for a mounting screw 54 which,,as shown in Figure 6, is screwed into the body. member 35 to hold the tubular lock portion 45 in place in the body 35. Forward and rearward movement of the plunger 47 in the tubular support.45 is limited by a short fillister-headed. screw 5| carried in the plunger ll and moving in a longitudinal slot 53 in the tubular member 45.

When the plunger 47 is pushed inwardly in the tubular member 45 against the urging, of the springs 52, it is held in its innermost. position therein by a spring-urged button diilpositioned and adapted to engage an aperture 49 in the wall of the tubular member 45. When in thisinnermost position, the bolt projects. inwardly into the central aperture 33 of the latch, member 38, as aforesaid. The lock plunger 47 is adapted to receive a key of conventional design. andv contains a conventional plunger lock mechanism adapted to retract the button 48 upon rotation of the key and permit the springs 52 to urgethe plunger l1 outwardly to withdraw the boltv 55 54 and the vertical pivot 33, are also inaccessible or incapable of removal.

The bracket l9 may be secured not only to the dashboard l8 of a motor vehicle, but to any other vertical surface, such for example, as the wall of an armory, gun room, cabinet, or the like. To permit securing of the bracket l9 to such surfaces, the rear cross member l9a thereof is formed with apertures 60 to receive a rivet bolt or other similar member 6!, and it will be noted that the head of the securing member BI is also inaccessible, or at least extremely difficult of access when a gun I4 is locked in place in the fixture I6.

While the device shown and described herein is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it will be realized that it is capable of modification without departure from the spirit of the invention. For this reason, I do not mean to be limited to the form shown and described, but rather to the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. For use in a gun holder of the type having a butt socket secured to a fiat horizontal surface to receive the stock butt of an upstanding gun, a clamping fixture adapted to be mounted above said socket to embrace said gun and hold the same in a vertical position, said fixture comprising in combination: a horizontal U-shaped bracket having a pair of longitudinally slotted arms connected at their rearward ends by an integral cross piece; rear clamp means including a forwardly facing substantially vertical channel-shaped member adapted to receive a gun in clamping engagement therein mounted between said arms and secured thereto by a pair of horizofitally aligned screw-threaded attachment members extending through said arm slots whereby said clamp member may be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly along said arms and may be tilted about the axis of said attachment members; tool-receiving tightening means for said attachment member disposed adjacent the inner surfaces of said channel member whereby to be accessible only when there is no gun in said channel member; a vertical pivot mounted in the forward end of one of said arms; means forming a latch-receiving recess in the other of said arms; a jaw mounted on said pivot for swinging movement from closed position across the ends of said arms to an open position, said jaw being adapted when in said closed position to secure a gun against said rear clamp means; a movable latch member on said jaw adapted to engage said recess when said jaw is in said closed position; a spring connected to said latch member and anchored on said jaw to urge said latch member in a direction to engage said recess; a manually operable frangible member on said latch member for disengaging the latter from said recess; and a lock mounted on said jaw and adapted to engage said latch member to hold the same in said recess whereby to lock said jaw in said closed position.

2; For use in a gun holder of the type having a butt socket secured to a fiat horizontal surface to receive the stock butt of an upstanding un, a clamping fixture adapted to be mounted above said socket to embrace said gun and hold the same in a vertical position, said fixture comprising in combination: a horizontal bracket having a pair of substantially parallel forwardly extend- 6 ing arms; rear clamp means supported between said arms for sliding adjustment forwardly or rearwardly therealong, said clamp means having a surface formed to receive a gun in clamping engagement therewith; releasable fastening means connected between said clamp means and arms to secure said clamp means in an adjusted position thereof, said fastening means including a tool-receiving portion disposed entirely within said bracket and adjacent said gun-receiving surface whereby to be inaccessible for release when a gun is against said surface; and a jaw pivoted on one of said arms and swingable to engage the other thereof to lock a gun in place against said clamping means.

3. For use in a gun holder of the type having a butt socket secured to a flat horizontal surface to receive the stock butt of an upstanding gun, a clamping fixture adapted to be mounted above said socket to embrace said gun and hold the same in a vertical position, said fixture comprising in combination: a horizontal bracket having a'pair of substantially parallel forwardly extending arms; rear clamp means supported between said arms for sliding adjustment forwardly or rearwardly therealong, said clamp means having a concave surface disposed to receive a gun in clamping engagement therewith; releasable fastening means connected between said clamp means and arms to secure said clamp means to said arms in an adjusted position of said clamp means, said fastening means including a toolreceiving portion disposed entirely within said bracket and adjacent said concave surface whereby to be inaccessible for release when a gun is against said clamping means; a vertical pivot bearing member fixed to a forward end of one of said arms; a jaw having second pivot bearing members complemental to said first member and engaged therewith, said jaw being swingable on said pivot bearing from an open position to a closed position across the free ends of said arms; and a manually operable spring-urged latch adapted to engage the other of said arms adjacent the forward end thereof to releasably hold said jaw in said closed position thereof.

4. For use in a gun holder of the type having a butt socket secured to a fiat horizontal surface to receive the stock butt of an upstanding gun, a clamping fixture adapted to be mounted above said socket to embrace said gun and hold the same in a vertical position, said fixture comprising in combination: a bracket having a pair of laterally spaced, parallel, horizontal arms; a clamp member slidably supported on said arms for movement therealong, said clamp member being adapted to receive a gun in engagement therewith; fastening means connected between said clamp member and said arms to secure said clamp member to said bracket in an adjusted position of said clamp member, said fastening means including tool receiving portions disposed against adjacent interior surfaces of said arms whereby to be inaccessible when a gun is engaged in said clamp; and movable jaw means carried by said bracket and adapted to look a gun against said clamp means.

5. For use in a gun holder of the type having a butt socket secured to a flat horizontal surface to receive the stock butt of an upstanding gun, a clamping fixture adapted to be mounted-above said socket to embrace said gun and hold the same in a vertical position, said fixture comprising in combination: a bracket having a pair of horizontal arms with free forward ends laterally- 7 spaced to receive agun therebetween; a rear clamp member slidably supported on said arms for movement therealong, said clamp member being adapted to receive said gun in clamping engagement therewith; fastening means connected between saidarms and clamping member to lock thelatter in any adjusted position thereof a verticalpivot pin mounted in the forward end of one of said arms, said pin projecting above and below" the upper and lower surfaces respectively of said arm; a jaw mounted on said pivot pin for swinging movement from a closed position across the ends of said arms to anopen position, said jaw comprising a bodyportion substantially equal in width tosaid pivot-carrying arm and a pair of upper and lower plates irremovably secured to said body and having portions extending therebeyond at points above and-below the ends of said pin-carrying arm, each of said extending plate portions having a blind socket therein engaged with an end of said pin whereby said pin is inaccessible when said plates are secured to said body as aforesaid; and lockable and manually releasable latch means on said jaw adapted to engage said recess to lock said jaw in said closed position thereof.

6. For use in a gun holder of the type-having a butt socket secured to a flat horizontal surface to receive the stock butt ofan upstanding gun, a clamping fixture adapted to be-mounted above said socket to hold said gun in a vertical position, said fixture comprising in combination: opensided bracket means adapted to embrace a gun standing in said socket; a clamp member mounted in said bracket and movable therein to adjust the size of said bracket means for guns of various sizes, said clamp member having a concave, gun-receiving surface; releasable fastening members connected between said clamp member and bracket to lock said clamp member in an adjusted position thereof, said fastening members having tool receiving portions disposed within said bracket and exposed only at said concave surface whereby said securing members are inaccessible to release the same when a gun is in said bracket; and movable jawmeans carried by said bracket means to close the latter and clamp a gun therein against said clamp member.

'7. For use in a gun holder of the type having a butt socket secured to a flat horizontal surface to receive the stock butt of an upstanding gun, a clamping fixture adapted to bemounted above said socket to hold said gun in a vertical position, said fixture comprising in combination: opensided bracket means adapted to embrace a gun standing in said socket; aiclamp member mounted in said bracket and movable therein toward and away from the open-side of said bracket to. adjust the size of said bracket means for guns of various sizes; releasable fastening members connected between said clamp member and bracket to lock said clamp-member in an adjusted position thereof, said fastening members having tool receiving portions disposed; entirely within said bracket whereby said securing members are. inaccessible to release the same when a gun is in said bracket; movablejaw means carried by said bracket means to close the latter and clamp a gun therein against said clamp member; manually operable spring-urged latch means .carriedby said jaw means and adapted to engage said bracket to releasablyhold said jaw means in said closed position thereof; and a key-operated lock carried by'said jaw means-and adapted to-selec-- 8: tively-engage-saidlatch means to lock the same against release.

8. For'use in a 'gun holder of the type having a butt socketsecuredto a flat horizontal surface to receivethestock butt of an upstanding gun; a clamping fixture adapted to be mounted above said-socket to hold-said gun in a vertical position, said fixture comprising in combination: opensided bracket means adapted to embrace a gun standing in said socket; a clamp member mount ed in said bracket and movable therein to adjust thesize of said bracket meansfor guns of various sizes; securing means to immovablysecure said clamp member to said bracket means in an adjusted relative position thereof; movable jaw means carried'by said bracket means to closetlie latter and clamp a gun therein firmly against said clamp member; a spring-urged releasable latch member carried by said jaw means and adapted to engage said bracket toreleasably hold said jaw meansin said closed position thereof; a

key-operated lock carried by said jawmeans and adapted to selectively engage said latchmember to lock the same against release; and an operating member mounted onsaid latch member for manual operation to release said latch member, said operating member being constructed of a relatively destructible material whereby an attempt to force said look when the latter is engaged with said latch member will destroy said operating member without releasing said latch member.

9. For use in a gun holder of the type having a butt socket secured to a horizontal surface to receive the stock butt of an upstanding gun; a clamp including a fixed jaw assembly secured above said socket and a movable jaw assembly hinged andlockable to said fixed assemblywhereby. to embrace a gun standing in said socket; an adjustable clamping member in one of said jaw assemblies having a;concavesurfacev to ens gage said gun; and releasable securing: means to lock said member infixed adjusted. position in said last-mentioned jaw assembly; said see curing means having the only. to0lrreceiving pontion thereof exposedyonly. at: said concave, surface whereby said tool-receivingportion; is in.- accessible to loosen,v said securingmeanswith a gun in said clamp.

10. For, use in a gun holder of; the. type having a butt socket secured to a horizontal surface to receive the stock butt: of an upstanding gunand a clampinclud-ing a fixed jaw assembly secured.v above said socket and a. movablejaw: assembly hinged to, said. fixed assembly whereby to embrace a gun standing in said socket, a lock assembly to hold said jaws closed around said gun comprisingzlatch means to hold said jaw assemblies closed; a key-operated retainer to" lock said latch means in closed position; and

amanually operable member torelease saidlatch means when said retainer is unlocked, said: re leasingmember being constructed of a frangible material whereby an. attempt to. force said; look by manipulation of said releasing, member alone destroys said member without. unlatching said jaw members.

PAUL Mi PEASE.

References Citedzin theifile of: this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,546,332 Walters July 1.4, 1925: 1,837,939' Zimmerman .Dec. 23, 1931 2,316,995 Smith Apr. 20,1943 

